If Keith Honore had his way he never would have moved to Northern Virginia in the first place.
Content after two years of high school in his native Baton Rouge, La., Honore wanted to graduate with his classmates. His father, however, had other ideas.
So Honore ended up at Potomac in 1990, where he starred for Panthers coach Kendall Hayes’ powerhouse basketball teams. Sixteen years later, Honore has never felt more at home.
Potomac hired Honore as its new basketball coach on Thursday. An assistant at the Potomac since 1993, he replaces Hayes, his mentor, who won 423 games, a Group AAA state title and six Northwest Region championships in 21 years before retiring in March.
“I’ve been here. I have Kendall’s blueprint on how to win,” said Honore, 32, a telecommunications analyst who works outside the school. “As a coach you always have to do things your own way and follow your instincts. But I know what it takes.”
Potomac interviewed seven candidates for the position, according to activities director Bill Stearns. Potomac finished 25-1 last season and ranked No. 3 in the final Examiner Top 25 poll, losing in the region semifinals. The Panthers lose two-time All-Examiner pick Eric Hayes (Maryland), but return three starters, including junior guards T.J. Sampson and Deonte Steele.
